Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-10-07
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TIE II0vSE0N THE NIARSH;
The MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
BIZ FLORENCE WARDEN.
CHAPTER XVII.


Mr.. Rayner slept that night in the
dressing-room leading out of the large
front room which his wife now occu-
pied. l met him coming on: of it, as |
went downstairs to breakfast the next
morning. spent the hours until din
ncr-tim" in my own room, packing and
preparing for the journey the next day.
| thought it curious that did not
hear from my mother. as had written
her 4 long letter Monday. 1t was
pleasant to think of being with my
mother and of meeting Laurence, but
l felt troubled at leaving Mrs. Ravner
in so dcsOlate place and with only
servants for companions. Recently |
had caught her eyes fixed upon mine
as though she had something she
wished to say to me and could not
bring herself to the point of uttcring.
The doctor, for whose verdict Mr.
MAYNARD was waiting, gave a very
discouraging report rs to the probability
of Sarah's recovery. He thought she
was hopelcssly insane and would have
to be removed to the lunatic asylum.
On hearing this the detective, who had
spent the morning searching Sarah S
room and looking through her boxes,
decided to return to town that after
noon; but Mr.. Rayner pressed him to
stay, saying that he would drive him
over to Denham village that afternoon,
and, in the character of a friend of his,
come down from town for few days,
he could examine the scene of the rob-
berry and make inquiries without any
ones suspectinS who he was, and per-
haps pick up some scraps of Informal
ton which would save him from the
reproach of having made journey in
vain.
''Do you know enough about rail-
ways to pass for an engineer or in
inspector, or any thing Of that sort?"
asked Mr.. Rayner "You know, Of
course, that suspicion has fallen upon
gang of navvies who are at work up
on the line near there: but, although
there have been detectives among them
since, not one has been sharp enough to
discover any thing yet"
The man seemed little shy at first
of interfering in branch of the work
of watching which had been pat into
other hands. But he was rather put
upon his mettlc by the allusion TO the
fact that his journey had been so far a
failure. And Mr.. Rayner whispered to
me in the hall, with his eyes twinkling,
when the detective was already seated
in the dog-cart at the door, that he had
put that fellow up to discovering some
thing-it did not matter what-wrong
or right. He said that they should be
back early, as the fog was rising al
ready, and, in order to repay Mr.. May
nard for OBTAINING him, there was to be
a dinner at half-past six, instead of the
usual tea at half-past five. And, in the
very highest spirits, Mr. Rayner patted
my shoulder, told ME to save myself
for next day, and that he had present
to give me on the journey, and jumped
into the dog-cart.
went back into the dining-ro
Mrs. Rayner was sitting by the fire,
with Haidec on her lap.
Are you unhappy at tho thought Of
ing my seat and kneeling by her side,
as soon as the cook had left the room.
Mrs. Rayner looked at me earnestly.
and then whispered:
mo, am not unhappy about her.
but about YOU"
"About me, Mrs. Raynerw OK.
claimed, in establishment.
''Hush!" she whispered, softly. She
took her arms from her child's neck,
and told her to 90 and play; and
Haidee obediently walked to the win
dow. where her doll was lying ON the
floor.
1T is as much as my wretched life is
worth to warn you," whispered she,
taking the hand l had laid upon he1
lap, and clasping and unclasping hel
own about it nervously. "You are
kind-heartcd, and innocent as child
l sec that now" she continued, hel
eyes wandering restlessly about the
room.
I began to be afraid of fit of hys'
tcrics, or worse, and begged her not
to talk if it fatigued her, and asked hel
it should fetch some eau-de-cologne.
She shook her head.
II am not hysterical-don't be afraid
of that" said she, turning her greal
eyes upon me, as if in reproach. ID
only want to tell you this-when yor
arrive in London tomorrow, if YOU
mother is not waiting at the station
insist upon going to her house before
you go further. Do not on any accoun,
enter another train without her. Cal
the guard-make disturbance at the
station-do any thing rather"
"But how can I?" said l, gently. 81
can not insist against Mr. Rayner. HI
would not listen. You know that
when he tells one to do thing. there il
such strong authority about him. on,
must do it..
TRY, tryr' said she. earnestly. ::
believe you have the power, if you hav'
the courage. You have thwarted hi
wishes as nobody else has ever dare.
to do-in sending for DR.. Lowe, in tax
ing Haidee upstairs. Try once more
1t is not Sarah safety that is concerned
this time, nor Haidce's, but your own
For Heavens sake, try!"
She lay back in the chair, her face
neck and hands all wet with the vic
lence of her feeling and her unaccus
toned vehemencc. Yet her voice ha.
never risen above whisper that coul,
not have been heard at the other en-,
of the room. She raised her fac
again. and read with unexpected pene
tratiNn.th" look on nv face.
~ am not mad. Misc Christie" sh
said. quito quietly. Think me mad |
you iko-if your mother meets you a
Liverpool Street Station. But, If moi
remember my warning; it may hav
cost me my life"
Mrs. Rayner's words had made s
strong an impression upon me that
resolved in case my mother failed t
meet Us at the station, or to arrive 500
otter we did, and would ask Mr.. Ray
der to take cab to my unclc's hous
and fetch her myself. But could nc
understand why his wife should striv
to make me suspect him who ha
shown himself to be one of my bcs
and strongest friends.
The fog grew so thick that afternoo
that it was quite dark at half past fou
O'Clock when there was a ring at tn
door bell; and boy from the villag
came in and said Mrs. Manners was d
the school and wished me to com
there at once. went in and toll
Mrs. Rayner OF the request and she ad
vised me not to 60, fearing there wa
some trick about it. But upon m
saying that l did not see how l coul
refuse she listlessly gave her consent.
ran upstairs and was down agai
ready for my walk in few minutes
Tho boy was evidently prepared to ae